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Rugging is a super personal subject, it’s not a one size fits all situation but to help you choose which rug is best for your horse in certain weather we’ve put together a broad overview of the rugs we like to use on our horses ourselves.
Canvas Rugs
The weather in autumn is often unpredictable and can vary significantly depending on where you’re located in Australia. For northern warmer climates, you may just need a rug at night. One of our top picks is the canvas rug. Made from a blend of natural fibres, canvas rugs are more breathable and ideal in warmer climates. The WeatherBeeta Unlined Canvas rugs are made from strong 18oz ripstop which are waterproof and contain a 60% cotton blend canvas outer for natural breathability. The Lined Canvas rugs add a little more warmth and comfort for your horse with a wool lining.
Medium/Lite Turnouts
If canvas rugs aren’t for you that’s ok! Our range of synthetic turnout rugs are suitable for autumn weather as well. For our Southern states these are the rug of choice as they’re the strongest option and provide superior protection from the cooler weather. Our picks for autumn are the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Plus Dynamic II Standard Neck Medium/Lite, WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Plus Dynamic Duo II Combo Neck Medium/Lite or the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier Trio Detach-A-Neck Snug Medium. The reason we pick these rugs is because they’re all extremely versatile and can be used in multiple types of weather.
The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Plus Dynamic II Standard Neck Medium/lite is ideal for chilly autumn nights and you can even attach a neck rug for more protection. The WeatherBeeta Plus Dynamic Duo II Combo Neck Medium/lite can not only be used as a rainsheet (0g polyfill), but you can attach the 100g liner it comes with for extra warmth. If you want maximum versatility the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier Trio Detach-A-Neck Snug Medium is for you! Featuring our popular Detach-A-Neck style with a super strong and durable 1200 denier triple weave outer shell with repel shell coating that is both waterproof (Hydrostatic Pressure tested 2000 plus) and breathable (Moisture Vapour Tested 3000 plus) this rug can be used as just a 100g turnout rug perfect for autumn weather and later in winter you can add the 200g polyfill liner it comes with to create a warm and heavy 300g turnout rug.
Liners
Speaking of liners, these are a great option to add or remove layers to keep your horse comfortable as the weather changes. Compatible with WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Ultra Cozi II, Ultra Tough II, Premier Free II and Plus Dynamic II rugs, liners feature a single touch tape front closure and touch tape tabs on the neck to keep it in place when layered with these turnout rugs as well as clips at the rear to allow easy optional layering. Choose from the ComFiTec Cotton Liner featuring a strong 270g outer shell with 60% cotton for natural breathability, the ComFiTec Liner Medium/Lite with a 210 denier outer and 100g polyfill, or for extra warmth the ComFiTec Liner Medium has 200g polyfill.
Medium and Heavy Turnouts
As we mentioned previously, every state in Australia is different when it comes to weather, but in terms of rugs for winter we really have something to suit every horse’s needs. Starting with one of our best-valued new rugs, the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Prelim Combo Neck Medium is at number 1. It’s loaded with features and has 1200 denier waterproof and breathable outer with a warm 220g polyfill. This is an ideal weight for cold wintery conditions.
If you’re one that likes versatility in their winter rugs, then consider the WeatherBeeta Plus Dynamic Detach-A-Neck Medium or the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier Free II Detach-A-Neck Medium or Heavy. These rugs offer your horse a high level of comfort with the memory foam wither relief pad that contours to the horse's shape and lifts the rug off the wither to reduce rubbing and provide added comfort. The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier Free II also features the unique full embrace wrap for a huggable fit.
If you’ve got a horse that’s tough on its rugs, then we recommend the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Ultra Tough II Detach-A-Neck Medium. Made from a super strong 1680 denier ballistic nylon outer shell with Teflon coating that is both waterproof and breathable with a luxurious lofty 220g polyfill. The best part about this rug is you can add extra warmth with the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec liner system we mentioned earlier.
If you prefer a super warm rug without the added weight, the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier Thinsulate Combo Neck 300Gm is the ideal rug! This rug features unique Thinsulate filling technology which provides lightweight breathable warmth for your horse without the added bulk, by trapping the heat to better insulate for complete comfort. The Thinsulate fill is equivalent to 300g of polyfill and combined with the Thermi-heat lining which utilises thermal reflection to help maintain warmth and prevent heat loss, will keep your horse warm and protected from the elements. These are our rugs of choice for super chilly winter conditions.
Finally our most luxurious choice of rug for winter which is certain to keep your horse warm and protected is the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Ultra Cozi II Detach-A-Neck 300Gm or the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Ultra Cozi II Detach-A-Neck Medium. These rugs feature ultimate strength 1680 denier ballistic nylon outer shell with Teflon coating that is both waterproof (Hydrostatic Pressure tested 2000 plus) and breathable and come with a luxurious 300g and 220g lofty polyfill for warmth. Our favourite unique feature that truly make this rug stand out is the WeatherBeeta Cozi Guard for protection around the neck and chest and the belly wrap.
Don’t forget, the most outstanding thing about our WeatherBeeta synthetic turnout rugs is that they come with a three-year warranty on hardware, breathability and waterproofness.
Horseland is the rug specialist, with the biggest range, best brands and best value. From nylon turnout rugs for the southern cold states to breathable canvas rugs for the northern wet states, we’re proud to offer the largest variety of horse rugs in Australia to keep your horse warm and dry in winter. Head into your local Horseland store or browse our full range of rugs online.